Ball State University students could save money on gas, not deal with interstate traffic and have more time to finish homework on a laptop. This would all be possible for students if an Indiana state legislative study finds that a rail way between Muncie and Bloomington, with stops in Anderson and Indianapolis, is feasible, said Delaware County Commissioner John Brooke.
Scott Truex, director of the community-based project program, said the rail link would provide benefits for Ball State students.
"Students could live in Indianapolis, come up and take classes, and return," he said. "This would greatly benefit students in terms of cost of living."
Truex, who is also director of the College of Architecture and Planning at the Ball State Indianapolis Center, said the reverse is also true.
"Students could live in Muncie and have an internship in Indianapolis ... It would provide an opportunity for an immersive experience," he said.
The rail way also would allow for much better access to the cultural amenities Indianapolis has to offer, he said.
These potential benefits are echoed by Ball State students.
Ashley Vanosdol, a senior international business major from the Bloomington area, said the rail link would help all the communities involved.
"Bloomington has no major highway, so it would be great for them," she said.
Nicole Rambeau, a senior psychology major, agreed and said the rail would make Indianapolis trips much easier.
"It would be awesome to go from Muncie to the Indianapolis airport with out having to pay for the parking," she said.
Along with the Indiana Department of Transportation, some students are getting involved with the project.
Brandon Winter, a fourth-year urban planning major, said six teams from different majors within CAP are working with the rail project to help facilitate different parts of the project. He said his studio is working with the town of Pendleton.
"We're helping to plan for the impacts of the rail line on the city ... creating a template for other towns that will be on the line," Winter said.
Beyond Ball State, Brooke said the project would have large positive effects on the Muncie community as a whole. He said commuters in both Indianapolis and Muncie would increase, business would be more productive and Muncie's large labor force could be distributed around the state.
Truex agreed and said other transit systems around the country provide an image of what this system could be.
"Transit systems generate jobs and businesses want their employees to be part of a transit system," he said.
The rail's format is yet to be determined, but Truex said the rail could use existing track and utilize traditional inner city trains. He also said new rail could be laid for more modern trains.
"That's one of the things the study is investigating," he said.
Brooke said the study will concentrate on land usage, construction problems, economic ramifications and overall cost. A representative of the Indiana Department of Transportation said the project has no timeline because it still is in the planning stages.
Current Ball State students, however, should not plan on using the rail way for some time. Brooke said he was not sure when the project would begin, but estimated it wouldn't be for another six to 10 years.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
